Machine for bundling paper currency



April 10, 1928.

Y 1,665,730 v F. w. CHASE v MACHINE FOR BUNDLING PAPER CURRENCY 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.- 1, 1922 Inventor W d b 5 y .Y a; any

April '10, 1928 F. w. CHASE I MACHINE FOR BUNDLING PAPER CURRENCY FiledFeb. 1, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor? y, 1. my

April 10, 1928. 1,665,730

F. w. CHASE MACHINE FOR BUNDLING PAPER CURRENCY Filed Feb. 1. 1922 ssheets-Sheet '4 Inventor:

M y atly F. w. CHASE MACHINE FOR BUNDLING PAPER CURRENCY April 10, 1928.

Filed Feb. 1. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 fnvent or.

r l l l ET F 98 F. w. CHASE momma FOR YBUNDLING PAPER cunanncy Filed Feb. 1, 1922 6 sheetsrsheet '6 Inventor.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. CHASE, OF MELROSE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WELDFAST SYSTEM,INCL, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR BUNDLING PAPER CURRENCY.

Application filed February This invention relates to machines forbundling currency and other materials.

In the larger institutions that distribute currency, such as the UnitedStates Treasury and the Federal reserve banks, it is customary to stackpaper currency in packages of a given number, say a. thousand pieces,and to hold the units of such a stack together with a binder oi somedescription. Such a package or bundle usually bears a label giving thenumber and denomination of the pieces of currency of which it iscomposed, and usually, also, additional information such as the initialsof the verifier and the name of the institution issuing the package. Itis also customary to bundle worn out paper currency in this manner forshipment back to the United States Treasury to be destroyed.

The currency is bundled, as above described, chiefly for convenience inhandling, and it is shipped in this manner by the Federal reserve banksand other distributing agencies to member banks and other linancialinstitutions, and it may in turn be distributed by these receivinginstitutions to smaller banks, corporations, and the like, while stillin the original package. Currency in this form thus is subjected to agreat many handlings from the time that it is packaged until thepackages are finally broken andthe currency distributed.

The usual processes of bundling paper currency produce packages of sucha character that it. entirely possible for an employee to remove one ormore pieces of currency from such a package without such removal beingdetected until the package is broken and the currency counted. casessuch a count never is made, and there is every reason to believe thatloss of currency in this manner often never detected. In other casessuch a loss is discovered but it is almost impossible to trace it.

\Vith these c nsiderations in view it is a very important objectof thepresent invention to devise a currency bundle or package, and a methodof bundling currency, which will prevent the removal of a piece ofcurrency from the package. It is also an important object of theinvention to derise a machine for making a package of the character justmentioned. The invention further is directed to the provision of amachine with which the bundlin operation In many 1, 1922. Serial No.533,474.

when read in connection with the acconr' panying drawings, and the novelfeatures will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention inthe form at present preferred;

Fig, 2 is av perspective View of a package produced by this machine;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical crosssection, showing on a larger scale certain parts of the mechanism forcompressing the stack and the parts adjacent thereto Fig. dis a viewpartly in side elevatioir and partly in vertical cross section of themechanism for gripping and tightening the binders;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a stack of currency showing the manner inwhich the binders are applied thereto;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, and also showing oneof the molds in its operative or sealing position;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the molds;

F 8 is a view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal cross section,designed to show more particularly the mechanism for handling the meltedsealing material;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9--9, Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation showing certain details of the mechanism forhandling the sealing material. A

Preliminary to a detailed description of the machine shown, it. may bestated that this machine comprises, briefly stated,- a mechanism forcompressing a stack of bills or currency and holding the stack in acompressed condition, means for tightening a pair of binding tapes aboutthe stack while it is so compressed, a pair of molds for holding meltedmetal or other sealing material in position to seal together adjacentportions of the binders so tightened, and means for delivering chargesof said sealing metal to the molds. The detailed description of thevarious mechanisms that compose the machine will be taken up insubstantially the order in which they have just been mentioned.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the machineincludes a frame 2 designed to be secured to a bench or other suitablesupport. Mounted fast on this frame and forming a part of it, is a plateor platform 3 designed to support a stack of bills or currency to beboundand sealed. Usually, as above stated, such a stack contains onethousand pieces. Another plate 4 which is carried by a slide or head 5is arranged to be brought down on top of the stack supported on theplatform 3. The slide 5 is guided on vertical ways 66, Figs. 1 and 3,these ways being secured to opposite sides of the upper part of themachine frame, and the slide is counter-balanced by a weight 7, Fig. 3,which is guided on the rod 13 and is connected to the slide by means ofa cord 8 running over a pulley 9. This slide carries a pawl 10 normallyheld by means of a leaf spring 11 in contact with the teeth of a rack 12which is slidably mounted in the machine frame. A rod 14 pivoted to thelower end of the rack 12 connects this rack with a treadle lever 15fulcrumed at 16 on one of the legs of the machine. A coiled spring 17,Fig. 1, holds the treadle 15 normally in its uppermost position. I

It will thus be evident that when the treadle 15 is depressed, thismovement will be transmitted through the rack 12 and pawl 10 to theslide 5, thus moving the slide downwardly and pressing the plate 4against the stack of bills. In order to enable this operation to berepeated and thus to progressively compress the stack, a holding rack 20is secured to the frame 2 and cooperates with a pawl 21 pivoted on theslide 5 to hold the slide in its depressed condition, the pawl beingnormally held in contact with the teeth of the rack by a spring 22.

Both of these'pawls are mounted on a pivot pin 23, F ig. 3, whichextends transversely through the slide 5, and a finger piece 24 also ispivoted on the pin 23 and carries a stud 25 extending parallel to thepin 23 and located in notches formed in the upper parts of the pawls 10and 21. By swinging this finger piece outwardly, both pawls may bedisengaged from their respective racks and the slide may then be movedup or down by hand, as desired. A spring 29 normally holds this fingerpiece in its backward position.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the platform 3 and plate 4 are only wide enoughto cover the central portions of the stack C of ourrency, leaving theend portions of the stack projecting beyond these parts. After the stackhas been compressed in the manner above described, and while it is stillheld compressed by the holding pawl 21 and the rack 20, two metal bandsor tapes 2626 are looped around the stack, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.These tapes are drawn from supplies carried by reels 27 27 both mountedto turn freely on a shaft 28 supported horizontally in the lower part ofthe machine frame. This tape supporting mechanism is arranged induplicate and consequently only one of these mechanisms need bedescribed in detail.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that as the tape 26 is drawn fromthe reel 27 it passes over a gear 30 mounted on a shaft supported in alever 31 which is fulerumed on the shaft 28. The tape passes between thegear 30 and a toothed segment 32 carried by a bell crank lever 33 whichis fulcrumed at 34 on the lever 31 and is connected by a link 35 to oneend of a yoke or cross bar 36, to the other end of which is connectedthe corresponding link 35 of the opposite tape supporting mechanism. Alink 37 pivoted to the center of the yoke 36 connects it with a treadle38 fulcrumed on the stub shaft 16. A spring 40 connecting the bell cranklever 33 with the lever 31, tends to hold the se ment 32 away from thegear 30, as clearl y shown in Fig. 4, while a stron er spring 41connecting the machine frame with the rearward end of the lever 31 actsnormally to hold the latter lever in the position shown in said figure,and consequently, holds the treadle 38 in its raised position.

When this treadle is depressed, however, the first effect is to swingthe segments 32 of both tape supporting mechanisms into engagement withthe tapes and grip them firmly against the teeth of the gears 30, thisaction taking place because of the fact that each spring 40 is weakerthan its spring 41. A further depression of thetreadle 38 swings thelever 31 in a clockwise direction, Figs. 1 and 4, about the shaft 28,thereby carrying the gears 30 and segments 32 bodily down ward and thusdrawing downwardly on the tapes 2626.

In order to lock the treadle in its depressed condition, a dog 43, Fig.4, is pivoted on the treadle 38 and is arranged to engage a toothedportion 44 of one leg of the machine. A spring 45 normally holds the dogin its inoperative position but a plate 46 pivoted on the treadle 43 inposition to be engaged by the toe portion of the foot during theact ofdepressing this treadle, is arranged to bear against the dog and forceit into engagement with the teeth 44. It will then hold the treadledepressed, due to the action of the spring 41 and also to the pull ofthe tapes, but in order to release the treadle it is merely ncessary todepress it slightly without touching the plate 46 when the spring 45will release the dog 43 from the teeth. 44. The treadle may then beeased back to its initial position.

Ill)

The mechanism just described is utilized to draw the binding tapestightly about the stack of currency. For the purpose of anchoring thefree ends of the binders while this operation is performed, two slidesor plates and 51, Fig. 5, respectively, are mounted to slidehorizontally in guideways formed in a portion 49, Fig. 3, of the frame.These slides have rack portions, as indicated at 52 and 53,-respectively, to engage simultaneously with opposite sides of a pinioncarried by a short shaft 55 which is provided with a handle 56. Byturning this handle the slides 50 and 51 may be moved toward or fromeach other. These slides have tingers 58 and 59', respectively, and theends of the tapes Q6 and 26, respectively, Fig. 5, are looped aboutthese lingers, in a manner shown very clearly in Fig. (3. Consequently,

when the tapes are tightened by depressing the treadle 38, as abovedescribed, the result will be to draw both tapes very tightly about thestack of bills C.

Preferably metal tapes are used to bind the stack of currency, and thesetapes may conveniently be embossed with some distinctive design such,for instance, as the symbol, monogram or the like of the particular hankissuing the currency. Each reel 2 is equipped with a brake l7 heldagainst the reel by a. spring t8, the brake serving to exert sutlicientdrag on the reel to prevent the tape from unwinding under the momentumof the reel.

\Vhile these tapes are thus held in their tightened condition, they areeach sealed by flowing melted metal around adjacent or overlappingportions of the tapes. For this purpose two molds 60 and 61 are mountedto be moved into and out of position to hold charges of sealing materialin sealing relationship to the tapes. The detailed con struction of themold 60 is best shown in Figso and 7, and the mold, 61 is exactly likeit. Referring to these figures, it will be seen that the mold consistsof a receptacle 62, open at its rearward side, and having a bottom 63that is slidable backward and forward. The receptacle 62 has arearwardly extending shank (33' that is secured in the upper end of anarm 64, while the bottom member (53 is mounted on a pin ()5 which issliduble in an aperture formed in the arm (it and is normally pressedforward by a spring 66. The mold preferably includes a casing in whichthe receptacle G2 is embedded, this casing being made of some moldedcompost tion such as asbestos, cork or other refractory material. Themold 61 is mounted similarly to the mold 60 on an arm 67. The two arms64 and 67 are supported in holders 68 and 69, respectively, secured toshafts 70 and 71, Fig. 5. These two shafts are coaxial and are mountedend to end in a sleeve 72 supported in ears that project forward fromthe frame. A spring 73 coiled about the sleeve 72 is connected at itsends to the two shafts 70 and 71 so that while these shafts normallymove in unison they can have a diiferential angular movement. A handleiis connected with the end of the shaft 71 and a spring 75 acts on thishandle, as best shown in Fig. l, to hold the handle in either its up ordown position.

It should be noted that the slides 50 and 51 are provided with fingersT6 and 77 that extend between the hinders 26 and 26 to the stack C. Whenthe handle Tet is swung into its upper position, as shown in Fig. 5,thus carrying both of the molds into their sealing positions and holdingthem there yieldingly, the bottom (S3 of the mold (50 will press the:-verlapping lengths of tape 26 against the linger 7G. The bottom of themold 61 similarly presses the tape 26 against the finger 77. If asuitable quantity of melted metal, such as lead or solder, is nowintroduced into each of the n'iolds, this metal obviously will flowaround the tapes and when it cools off will seal them securely together.The fingers 76 and 77 cooperate with the yielding bot toms of therespective molds to confine the sealing metal to the desired location.This metal will flow against the edges of the bills, but it has beendemonstated that this does no harm.

t is contemplated that the charges of sealing metal may be supplied tothe molds by hand, but in order to facilitate the handling of thismaterial and to expedite the bundling operation, a metal handlingmechanism preferably is employed. This mech anism comprises a pot 80 inwhich the sealing metal may be melted and which preferably, but notnecessarily, is heated electrically. An inclined spout 81 projectsthrough the front wall of this pot and has a partition 82 extendinglongitudinally therethrough and dividing it into two parallel ducts orpassages. A dipper 83, Fig. 9, is mounted in the pot and is designed tohold the proper charge for the sealing of a single package, this dipperalso being divided laterally to correspond with the division of thespout 81. This dipper has a closed top as. Normally the dipper rests atsubstantially the bottom of the body of metal in the pot, as shown inFig. 9, and it is provided with two pins 85 85 projecting from oppositesides thereof and entering guideways or slots, one of which is shown at86, Fig. 9, formed in plates 878'i' that are secured rigidly in the potat opposite sides of the dipper. A bail 88 is connected to the dipper 83by pivots 89 pro jecting from opposite sides thereof and located closeto the bottom of the dipper. The upper end of this hail is pivoted tothe end of an arm 90 pinned to a rock shaft 91'. Consequently, when thisrock shaft is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig; 9 thecontil) nections 90 and 88 will lift the dipper out of the metal and thepins 85 running in the slots 86 will cause the dipper totip as itreaches the upper limit of its movement and dump its contents into thespout 81. The fact that the top of the dipper is covered or closed, asshown at 8-1, will prevent the entrance of sludge or dross into thedipper in any substantial quantity. Any dross picked up on the cover 8 1will be dumped on the upper surface of the spout 81 where it will bediverted to one side by the inclined flange 92.

The charges of sealing material so delivered to the spout are conveyed.to the respective molds 60 and 61 by two tubes 93 93 which preferablyare jacketed. by an electric heater 94:. These two tubes are supportedby a bracket 96 so that they may be swung into and out of theiroperative positions. The bracket 96 is mounted loosely on vertical shaft97, Figs. 8 and 10, and is connected therewith through a coiled spring98 so that it normally turns with said shaft, but the shaft can havean'angular movementrelatively to the bracket. his shaft has a bevel gearconnection 100 with a shaft 101 extending forwardly and provided with ahandle or crank 102. Consequently, when this handle is turned in theproper direction the bracket 96 and the tubes 93 will be swung fromtheir full line position, Fig. 8, into their dotted line position, thusremoving them from the vicinity of the stack of currency. A reversal ofthese operations'will return the tubes again to their normal oroperative positions. It will be notedthat the bracket 96 has a mouthpiece 103, Figs. 8, 9, and 10 to fit against the delivery end of thespout 81. A bevel gear connection 105 between the shafts 97 and 91causes the rock shaft 91 to turn with the shaft 97 and thus to raise thedipper 83 and dump it. A single crank thus operates both the dipper andthe tubes. The movement of the parts is so timed that the tubes 93 93are swung into their operative positions, shown in Fig. 8, while thedipper is making the vertical part of its movement. After the tubes havereached said position and can move no further, the dipper diunps itscharge into the spout 81, this action being produced by a furtherturning movement of the handle 102 which winds up the spring 98.

In using the machine the operations are substantially as follows: Astack C of currency which has been counted is placed on the platform 3behind the slides 50 and 51, these slides at this time being in theirinner positions. The operator next compresses the stack C by depressingthe treadle 15 as many times as may be necessary. The dog 21 and rack 20hold the stack in its compressed condition. The operator next turns thehandle 56 to move the slides 50 and 51 outwardly, or away from eachother. He

then grasps the ends of the tapes 26 and 26 which are projecting throughholes or slots at the front of the machine table, and he loops thesetapes completely around the fingers 58 and 59, respectively; Theposition of the tape 26 at this time is clearly shown in Fig. 6, and thetape 26 in the same position at the other side of the presser plate 1.The operator then steps on the treadle 38 and the plate 46, thus drawingboth tapes tightly about the stack, the act of stepping on the plate 46serving to engage the dog 13 with the teeth ist and thus lock thetreadle in its depressedcondition. The molds 60 and 61 are next swunginto their operative or sealing positions by turning the handle 74;upwardly and the spring 75 holds them yieldingly in said positions.During all of these operations the tubes 9393 have been occupying theirinoperative positions, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 8. They arenow swung into their operative positions by turning the handle 102, anda further turning movement of this handle results in dumping a. chargeof sealing metal into the spout 81, as above described, this metal beingconducted by the tubes 9393 to the molds 60v and 61. The metal coolsalmost immediately thus sealing the tapes securely in theirtightenedcondition about the stack of bills.

The operator next releases the treadle 8S, swings the tubes 9393 intotheir inoperative positions again through a proper movement of thehandle 102, and then swings the crank 7 1 downwardly thus returning themolds 60 and 61 to their inoperative positions. He then turns the handle56 to with draw the lingers 58, 59, 76 and 77 laterally frombehind thetapes. He clips off the tape in front of the seal with a pair of shearsand removes the package from the machine.

The appearance of the completed package is shown in a general way inFig. 2, the seals being shown at 107 and 107. Attention is particularlydirected to the fact that the sealing metal flows around all four sidesof each length of tape with which it comes in contact and it also flowsbetween the tapes due to the fact that the tapes are held apart by theraised or embossed figures or letters. Consequently, even if the sealingmetal does not stick to the tapes, it does flow into the depressions inthe tapes and locks them securely together mechanically. Usually,however, the sealing metal will stick to the tapes and form a securemolecular seal as well as a mechanical seal. If desired, the molds 60and 61 may have some symbol, letter, monogram, or the like cut in them,as shownin Fig. 7, so that each seal will bear such symbol or monogram.

The package produced in this way is bound so tightly that it isimpossible for a person to eXtracta piece of currency from it withoutbreaking the tapes. The seals are of such a nature that it would beimpossible for a person to remove them and replace them again Withoutspecial apparatus and an ample opportunity to use such-apparatus. Thebundling of currency in this manner, therefore, makes it impossible, asa practical matter, to remove a piece of currency from such a packageWithout breaking the seals or the tapes. Furthermore, with the aidof themachine herein shown and described the bundling operation can beperformed very rapidly and with a great saving in time over formerprocesses. lVhile I prefer to use metal tapes and seals, as abovedescribed, it is contemplated that other forms oi binders and sealingmaterial ,:an be used in the machine shown. The form of tape usuallyfound preferable a tin plated steel tape, the plate assisting in makinga good union between the tape and the seal.

In order to avoid the possibility of tearing out a bill or piece ofcurrency at the top or bottom of the stack and then pasting the tornparts together again, I prefer to use a label at the top and bottom ofthe package. This label may bear a distinctive design and it shouldcontain the name of the institution issuing the currency, the number anddenomination of the pieces in the package, and the initials of theverifier. Any other suitable information also can ;be added. The partiesreceiving the currency bundled in thi manner will be accustomed to lookfor the top and bottom labels and if they do not find them theirsuspicions will immediately be aroused. It will readily be appreciatedthat the simple expedient .of using labels of this character avoids anypos sibility of removing bills from either end of the stack by tearingthem out With any hope of success in piecing such bills together againand redeeming them.

The invention has been herein disclosed as concerned especially with thebundling or packaging of currency, but it Will be evident that it canalso be used to advantage in the bundling of bonds or valuable papersand rarious articles or goods, and these are regarded for the purposesof this application as the equivalent of currency. For example, it iscontemplated that essentially the same machine may be used in thebundling oi" shingles, the strapping of boxes, and :for analogous work.

It will be appreciated that While I have herein disclosed the processprovided by this invention as practiced with the aid of the machineabove described, the process is, nevertheless, independent of anyspecial form of machine, and that it may be practiced with other formsof apparatus or by hand. It Will-also be understood thatwhile I haveherein shown and described the best form of machine Which I have so fardevised, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other formsdiffering in many particulars from the specific construction shown. I donot desire to be limited, therefore, to the precise details ofconstruction of the machine shown.

Having thus described my invention, What I desire to claim as new is:

1. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack While the stack is held socompressed, and a mold mounted to be positioned against said binder andoperative to hold a quantity of melted material in position to sealoverlapping portions of the binder tOgGb'hB-l.

2. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination ofmechanism for com-pressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack While the stack is held compressed,and means for delivering a quantity of melted sealing material tooverlapping portions of the binder to secure the binder in its tightenedcondition.

3. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack While the stack is held compressed,a mold for holding quantity of melted sealing material in position :tosecure adjacent portions of the binder together and thereby hold thebinder in its tightened condition, a pot for holding a supply of saidmaterial, and means for conveying a charge of said material from saidpot to said mold.

4. in a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for com-pressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held compressed,a

mold for holding a-quantity of melted sealing material in position tosecure adjacent portions of the binder together and thereby hold thebinder in its tightened condition, a pot for holding a supply of saidmaterial, means for conducting said material to said mold, a dipper forconveying a charge of said n'iaterial from said pot to said means, andoperating means for said dipper.

5. In a machine for bundling paper our- ;rency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack While the stack is held compressed,a mold for holding a quantity of melted sealing material in position toseal :together adjacent portions of said :binder and thereby secure thebinder in its tightened condition, and means supporting said mold formovement into and out of said position.

6. :In a machine :for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mech anism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held.compressed, a mold for holding a quantity of melted sealing material inposition to seal together adjacent portions of said binder and therebysecure the binder in its tightened condition, and supporting means forsaid mold enabling it to be swung into and out of said position.

7. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held compressed,a mold for holding a. quantity ofmelted sealing material in position toseal together adjacent portions of said binder and ther by secure thebinder in its tightened condition. means supporting said mold formovemei'it into and out of said position, and mechanism including aspring for yieldingly holding said mold in its operative position.

8. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held compressed,a mold for holding a quantity of melted sealing material in position toseal together adjacent portions of said binder and thereby secure thebinder in its tightened condition, means supporting said mold formovement into and out of said position, said mold including a bottomsupported to yield bacle wardly upon engagement with said binder.

9. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination of astationary platform on which a stack of said currency may be placed, aslide, a plate carried by said slide to bear on said stack, a rackmounted to move past the slide parallel therewith, a pawl carried bysaid slide and arranged to engage the teeth of said rack, and means forsliding said rack.

10. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination of astationary platform on which a stack of said currency may be placed, aslide, a plate carried by said slide to bear on said stack, two pawlscarried by said slide, a stationary rack with which. one of said pawlsengages, a slidable rack with which the other pawl engages, a treadlefor moving the latter rack, and means for disengaging said pawls fromtheir respective racks.

11. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, means for holding asupply of binding tape, a finger for anchoring one end of a length ofsaid tape drawn from said supply and looped around the stack, a gearlocated be tween said supply and stack and over which the tape is drawn,a segment for pressing said tape against said gear, a lever carryingsaid gear, a second lever tulcrumed on the first lever and carryingsaid. segment, and a treadle connected with siidsecond lever, wherebythe depression of said treadle is operative to pressthe segment againstthe gear and to swing the first lever about its fulcrum, thus grippingsaid tape and drawing it tightly about said stack.

12. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held compressed,a mold for holding a quantity of melted sealing material in position tosecure adjacent portions of the binder together and thereby hold thebinder in its tightened condition, a device mounted for movement intoand out of position between said binder and stack to cooperate with saidmold in confining the flow of said sealing material, and meanssupporting said mold for movement into and out of its sealing position.

13. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, a device foranchoring one end of a binder looped around the stack, mechanism fordrawing said binder to tighten it about the stack and hold the stackcompressed, a mold mounted to be positioned against said binder andoperative to hold a quantity of melted sealing material in position toseal adjacent portions of the binder together, and a device cooperatingwith said mold to confine said sealing material. said devices beingconnected for movement into and out of their operative positions'inunison.

14. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism "for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a pair of binders around said stack near opposite endsthereof, two molds mounted. to be positioned against the respectivebinders and each operative to hold a quantity of melted sealing materialin position to seal adjacent portions ot' the binders together, andmeans for moving said. molds into and out of their sealing positions inunison.

l5. Ina machine for bundling paper currency, the con ibination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a pair of binders around said stack near opposite endsthereof, two molds mounted to be positioned against the respectivebinders and each operative to hold a quantity of melted sealing materialin position to seal'adjacent portions of the binders together,connecting means supporting said molds for movement substantially inunison to and from their sealing positions, said connections including aspring enabling the molds to have a differential movement, and anadditional spring for holding both molds in their sealing positions.

16. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a pair of binders around said stack near opposite endsthereof, two molds mounted to be positioned against the respectivebinders and each operative to hold a quantity of melted sealing materialin position to seal adjacent portions of the binders together, a meltingpot for said sealing material, means for conduct ing charges of saidmaterial to said molds, a dipper for conveying charges of said materialt'rom said pot to said conducting means, and operating mechanism forsaid dipper.

17. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, means for holdingtwo supplies of binding tape adjacent to said mechanism and from whichlengths of tape may be drawn and looped about said stack near oppositeends thereof, and means for tightening said tapes about said stacksimultaneously.

18. In a machine for bundling paper currency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, means for holdingtwo supplies of binding tape adjacent to said mechanism and from whichlengths of tape may be drawn and looped about said stack near oppositeends thereof, a pair of fingers for anchoring the ends of said lengthsof tape, means for gripping said lengths of tape between said stack andsaid supplies, a treadle for moving said gripping means to tighten thetapes around the stacl; while the stack is held compressed, a pair ofmolds for holding sealing material in position to secure togetheradjacent portions of said tapes and thereby secure them tightly on thestack, and means for delivering charges of sealing material to saidmolds.

19. That improvement in the process of bundling paper currency, whichconsists in making a stack of said currency, comprcssing said stack,encircling the stack with a metallic binder, tightening the binder onthe stack while the stack is still held com pressed, and unitingadjacent portions of said binder by fusing a metal seal about them whilethe binder is held in its tightened condition.

20. That improvement in the process of bundling paper currency, whichconsists in making a stack of said currency, compressing said stack,encircling the stack with a metallic binder, tightening the binder onthe stack while the stack is still held compressed, fusing a metal sealabout adjacent portions of said binder, and holding said portions spacedapart while said seal is fused about them, whereby said seal will lockthe binder securely in its tightened condition on the stack.

21. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism tortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held socompressed, and means for anchoring the end of said binder at a pointclose beside said stack, said anchoring means being supported forlateral withdrawal from under the binder after the tightening operationhas been completed.

22. In a machine for bundling paper ourrency, the combination ofmechanism for compressing a stack of said currency, mechanism fortightening a binder about said stack while the stack is held socompressed, means for anchoring the end of said binder at a point closebeside said stack, and means for securing adjacent parts of said bindertogether to secure the binder in its tightened condition, said anchoringmeans being supported for lateral withdrawal from under the binder afterthe tightening operation has been completed.

23. In a machine for bundling currency, the combination of mechanism forcompressing a stack of currency, means for anchoring one end of a metaltape at a point closely adjacent to said stack with said tape loopedabout the stack, mechanism for tightening said tape about saidcompressed stack with portions of said tape overlapping each other, andmeans for sealing the overlapping portions of said tape together intheir tightened condition, said anchoring means being supported forwithdrawal from under the binder after said sealing operation has beencompleted.

2 1. In a machine for bundling currency, the combination of mechanismfor compressing a stack of currency, means for anchoring one end. of ametal tape at a point closely adjacent to said stack with said tapelooped about the stack, mechanism for tightening said tape about saidcompressed stack with portions of said tape overlapping each other,means for sealing the overlapping portions of said tape together intheir tightened condition, and means for laterally withdrawing theanchoring means from under said binder after the sealing operation hasbeen completed.

FRANK W. CHASE.

